Our mission: The Muséoparc Vanier Museopark is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, preservation and dissemination of both the tangible and intangible heritage of the Quartier Vanier, Richelieu Park and the French-speaking population of Ottawa, for the present as well as future generations. It is the only francophone museum in Ottawa and one of the rare Canadian museums outside of Quebec dedicated to the French-speaking community.

The Museopark: The Past in a Natural Setting!

The Muséoparc Vanier Museopark is so named because of its location in the Richelieu Park. The property called Richelieu Park belonged in the past to the Society of Missionaries of Africa. These priests were well known as the White Fathers. They built an important scholasticate on the site of the Richelieu Park in 1938. Two extensions were added in the 1950s. It was an imposing building and of course interesting from an architectural angle. The White Fathers also built a sugar shack on the property. The property of the White Father was bought by the City of Vanier in 1977 and the main building of the scholasticate was demolished. In 1985, Vanier’s City Hall moved in one of the remaining buildings. Today, the 17.5 acres of the Richelieu Park remain a natural treasure in the midst of an urban setting. The Vanier Museopark, the Richelieu-Vanier Community Center, the Vanier Public Library and even a sugar shack are all located in the Richelieu Park.

In the Footsteps of the Vanier Museopark

It was the group Action Vanier, with Mr. René Doré as president, who first set up a committee with the mandate of creating the first Museum of Vanier. This committee’s first meeting was held at Action Vanier’s maple grove in 2002 and was presided over by Mrs. Diane Doré. Many Vanier District mayors and councillors attended (Mr. Roger Crête, Mr. Guy Cousineau, Mrs. Gisèle Lalonde) as well as interested residents. Thanks to numerous partners and sponsors, including the City of Ottawa, the ROPFO (Regroupement des organismes du patrimoine franco-ontarien), the B.I.A. Vanier Business Improvement Area and the Trillium Foundation of Ontario, the Vanier Museopark was born.

The Museum

On October 11th, 2006, the Muséoparc Vanier Museopark officially opened its doors with a first exhibition named “Vanier-sur-l’Outaouais, aujourd’hui pour demain,” or Vanier-on-the-Outaouais, today for tomorrow. This exhibition explores the history of the Vanier district with themes like the First Nations, the Voyageurs and the waterways they used for transportation, the first pioneers, education, religion and family life. Elements that generated the social, cultural and economical developments in the last 400 years are brought to light.

The Museopark also provides fascinating temporary exhibits. Over the last three years, the Museopark has presented such exhibits as "Ontario, a feminine epic," "Preserving our past: a restoration project" and "Vers les affaires."

The Museopark’s Logo: A Symbolic Logo

The maple tree symbolizes the fact that the Richelieu Park is an environmental landmark.
The window represents a museum adorned with windows. The four colours are the reflection of the Museopark’s very essence:

• Green represents nature
• Yellow symbolizes sunshine
• Red highlights the passion of Francophones for their language
• Blue represents the colours of the flag of Vanier